Cartridge holder and dispenser



March 7, 1950 J. w. KIRBY CARTRIDGE HOLDER AND DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Shes?Il M702. ./o//v u. K/py Filed Jan. 17, 1947 March 7, 1950 J. w. KIRBY2,499,552

'y CARTRIDGE HOLDER AND DISPENSER l Filed Jan. 17, 194'?` I 2sheets-sheet 2 MENTOR Jox/N M K/Q y BY. ,rve W Patented Mar. 7, 195.0

UNITED STATESW PATENT OFFICE CARTRIDGE HOLDER AND DISPENSER f J ohn W.Kirby, iMemphis, Tenn. Application January 17, 1947, Serial No. 722,631

7 Claims.

This invention relates to cartridge holders for l the use as of huntersand other marksmen, and particularly to a holder which is adapted toreceive the content of a box of cartridges as a group, and will hold thecartridges so inserted for dispensing, and which may be manuallyoperatedto successively dispense the transverse rows, usually of ve cartridgeseach, as they were packed in the original box. It further relates tosuch a cartridge holder which may be conveniently supported as by a beltaround the waist of the user.

Cartridges for rifles and small arms are usually packed and sold to theusers, in boxes holding fifty cartridges disposed in ten transverse rowsof five each, and many rifles and most small arms have magazines orchambers holding ve, six, ten, or more cartridges which may at option belled or partially lled at one time with one or more dispensings.

The objects of the present invention are:

To provide a cartridge holder into which the entire content of the boxin which cartridges are purchased may be readily transferred withoutdisturbing the row arrangement of the cartridges as they were assembledin the box.

To provide such a holder which may be manipulated to remove as a groupthe cartridges of each transverse row in.I succession.

To provide such a holder which will maintain the row relation of thecartridges, whether the holder be full or have one row only remaining atall times; and l Which will simplify and improve the design andconstruction of such holders and, dispensers.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished andthe manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from thefollowingspecication upon reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the holderV fully loaded, taken onthe line If-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line II-II ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Fig. 4 is an inverted sectional plan taken through the dispensingmechanism on the line IV--IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken, as was Fig. l, on the line I-I ofFig. 2, with the closure slide or door raised and a box of cartridgesbeing inserted.

j Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken on the line VII-VII of Fig. 5showing the slide lock.

Referring now to the drawings in which` the variousparts are indicatedby numerals:

The cartridge holder is a relatively elongated rectangular, box-likestructure having vertically disposed side walls I2, aback wall I4, andzahorizontal top wall I6v integrated together, the side Walls preferablyhaving bracing portions I2A extending rearwardly of the back wall I4. Atits lower end the back wall I4 has a rearward extension I8` whichoverlies a plate-like top portion 20 ofxan ejector, the extensionforming .a cover portion of a housing for the ejector. The extension I8is braced by the side wall portions IZA and at its rear edge has adownwardlyv extending lange 2-2 forming the back end of. the ejectorhousing. The side Walls I2 extend downward tothe level of the extensionI8 and therebelow have portions I2B, stepped outwardly the thickness ofthe sides 24 of the ejector, to form the sides ofthe ejector housing. f-The front edges of the sides I2 of the holder have outwardly extendinganges I2C which are forwardly and inwardly curved to form groovesadapted to slidably receive the side edges of a front wall or shutter 28forming a closure for the vfront of the holder. At its lower endtheshutter has a forward extension 30, which is preferably lbraced from theshutter by side flanges 32. The extension has a downwardly anged frontedge 34, the extension and flange, whenzthe shutter is seated, formingrespectively the top and front end of the ejector housing. DownwardlyVturnedside flanges 36 of the extension form sides completing the forwardend of f the housing. Y

The top I 6 of the holder preferably has an upwardly extending flange 38which is engaged by hook portions AIB at the top of the shutter limitingdownward movement. One edge of the wall is notched, preferably adjacentthe top, for enf gagement by aklatch 42 securing the shutter when inplace. ,44 is a lifting lug. A belt loop 46 may be secured to one of theside walls I2 for hanging the holder, as from the belt of the user. .j

The ejector is reciprocably mounted in the ejector housing andincludesthe top portion 2U; of length to be housed in the rear portion of thehousing, this top portion having a downwardly extending pusher flange26A at its forward end and asimilarly extending grip 20B cut out of 'anddownwardly bent adjacent its rear end. 'Portions 24A of the sides 24 ofthe ejector-extend forwardly from the flange 20A to the front wall28,-,of the cartridge holder and below the wall are con.-vv nected by afront portion 24B, forming a cartridge receiving pocket, fully open topand bottom. Underlying the ejector and forming the bottom of the ejectorhousing is a plate 48, extending over at least the rear half of the openbottom of the cartridge holder and of the ejector pocket when theejector is retracted. The rear portion of the plate (Fig. 6) is cut outto allow protrusion of the ejector grip. Extending upward from the plateis a lug 48A which engages one leg of a compression spring 50, havingits opposite 'leg engaging the ejector grip to hold the ejectorretracted. The sides 48B, and the rear end 48C of the plate are turnedup against the' sides IZB and end 22 of the ejector housing and securedthereto.

A follower 52 is slidably disposed in the car-1 tridge holder, and acompression spring 54 interposed between the top I6 and the follower.The follower is preferably of open top box type having a thin headportion 52A against, which the spring bears, and side walls 52B whichcooperate with the walls of the holder to guide the follower, and housethe spring; The spring preferably is of light weight wire, and itsconsequent pressure on the follower is sucient only to hold thecartridges lagainst displacement in the holder, a1` lowing dispensinglargely to be effected by the weight of the cartridges.

It will be understood that the holders mus't be of size to accommodatethe particular ammunition and the box in which it is purchased, excepttliat a holder, having fore and aft depth for long cartridges, may alsobe used for shorter cartridges.

In use, the latch 42 is displaced, releasing the shutter 28 and theshutter lifted by the lug 44 sufficiently to provide `for insertion ofthe cartridge box, or if desired, the shutter is entirely re'- moved.The cover is removed from the box i'n which the cartridges arecontained, leaving the cartridges 55 as originally packed in the lowerhalf of the box 58. The follower 52 is raised against the pressure ofthe Yspring' 54 and the box with the cartridgesl packed therein isinserted in the holder with the open top of the box facing inward,until'the cartridges seat against the back f4 and the follower isreleased against the box; The holder is then tipped until the back I4beco'mes the bottom a'nd the box is withdrawn, l'eav'- ing thecartridges in the holder and the follower pressing against them. Theshutter 28 is re"- pla'ced and latched.

Removal of the cartridge box allows the fol# lower to press thecartridges toward the ejector,

and the lower row of cartridges into the ejector and against the plate48 forming' the bottom of the ejector housing. To eject cartridges fr'omthe holder the grip 20B is `engaged by the oper@ ators finger and theejector shifted forward until the lower row of cartridges is-displacedfrom the 'plate 48 and drop from 'the holder. 4As this' displacementtakes place the top 20 of the ejector is shifted into yplace below thenext row of 'cartridges, holding them until release of the ejector gripallows the spring 5U to shift the ejector into position to receive thenext lower row, and Ythe row to drop into the ejector pocket. Y Y `Itwill be understood that many of the details herein are illustrative onlyand that it is not my intention to confine myself to Asuch detail exceptas in any claim it is 'specifically set out.

-It"wil1 be also specifically understood that the bottom 48` mayunderlie the entire 'o'pen bottom of the holder and the side 'wallportions 241A `'and forward end of the ejector 24B may be eliminatedwithout departing from my invention.

I claim:

1. A cartridge holder and ejector, including an elongated rectangularbox-like structure, having upright back and side walls and an upper endrigidly secured together, and a removable front wall. and means forlatching said front wall in closed relation to said side walls and end,the lower end of said holder being open, a follower within said holderslidable along said walls and a compression spring interposed betweensaid upper end and said follower; a relatively shallow ejector housingdisposed transversely across and below the open lower end of saidholder, said housing having top wall portions respectively extendingforward and rearward from the lower end of the front and back of saidholder, side walls' having their inner surfaces continuing the outersurface of the side walls of said holder and extending forwardly andrearwardly therefrom; and a bottom spaced at its forward end not morethan half the fore and aft depth of said holder rearwardly from saidfront wall and extending rearwardly beyond said back wall; a manuallyoperable ejector, `slid'ably disposed i'n said housing, said ejectorhaving 'a front member, side inembers and a transverse member underlyingthe Vwa'll's of said holder, said members outlining a pocket whioh isopen top and bottom, said pocket conforming to the cross section of saidholder and being adapted in retracted position of said ejector tounderlie 'said holder, said ejector having a plate-like top portionextending rearwardly from the top of said transverse member, and aspring cooperating with said ejector and said housing to urge saidejector into retracted position.

2; A cartridge holder and ejector in conformity with claim l, in whichthe top wall portion of said housing is respectively secured to andbraced from said front and back walls.

3. A cartridge holder and ejector, including an elongated rectangularbox-like structure, having upright back and side walls and an upper endrigidly secured together, and a removable front wall, and means forlatching said front wall in closed relation to said side walls and end,the lower end of said holder being open; a follower within said holderslidable along said walls and a compression spring interposed betweensaid upper end and said follower; a relatively shallow ejector housingsecured transversely across and below the open lower end of said holder,said housing having a top wall apertured to conform tothe 'open lowerend of said holder, side walls substantially co-exten'sive with said topwall, and a bottom spaced at its forward end not more than halfnthe foreand aft depth 'of 'said holder 'rearwardly from 'said front v'ri/allmandextending rearw-ardly beyond 'saidb'ack wall; a manually operlableejector, 'sl'i'dably disposed in said housing,

said ejector having a front "member, side members and a transversemember, Vsaid members 'outlining a pocket which is ope'n top 'andbottom, said pocket conforming to the cross 'section of said holder andbeing adapted in retracted position of'said ejector to underlie saidholder, Said ejector having a plate-like top portion extendingrearwardly from the top of said transverse member; and a 'springcooperating with said ejector and said housing to urge said ejector intoretracted position.

y 4. A` cartridge holder and eiector, including an elongated rectangularbox-like structure having upright `back and side walls, and an upper end,s rigidly secured together, and a front wall, the front edges of saidside walls being grooved to slid-ably receive said front wall, and meansfor latching said front wall in closed relation to said side walls, thelower end of said holder being open; a follower within said holderslidable along said walls and a compression spring interposed betweensaid upper end and said follower; a relatively shallow ejector housingsecured transversely across and below the open lower end of said holder,said housing having a top wall apertured to conform to the open lowerend of said holder, side -walls substantially co-extensive with said topwall, and a bottom spaced at its forward end Asubstantially half thefore and aft depth of said holder rearwardly from said front wall andextending rearwardly beyond said back wall; a manually operable ejector,slidably disposed in said housing, said ejector' having front and reartransverse members, and side members, said members outlining a pocketwhich is open top and bottom, said pocket conforming to the crosssection of said holder and being adapted in retracted position of saidejector to underlie said holder, said ejector having a plate-like topportion extending rearwardlyl from the top of said rear transversemember, and a spring cooperating with said ejector and said housing tourge said ejector into rectracted position.

5. A cartridge holder and ejector, including an elongated rectangularbox-like structure, having upright back and side -walls and an upper endrigidly secured together, and a removable front wall, and means forlatching said front wall in closed relation to said side walls and end,the lower end of saidholder being open; a follower within said holderslidable along said walls and a compression spring interposed betweensaid upper end and said follower; a relatively shallow ejector housingsecured below the open lower end of said holder, said housing having atop extending forwardly and rearwardly from said holder and apertured toconform to the open lower end'o'f said holder, side walls substantially(3o-extensive l with said top, and a bottom portion underlying saidholder and extending rearwardly beyond the back wall thereof; a manuallyoperable ejector, slidably disposed in said housing, said ejector havinga transverse memberadapted in retracted position of said ejector tounderlie said holder, and having a plate-like top portion extendingrearwardly from the top of said transverse member; and aspring'cooperating with said ejector and said housing to urge saidejector into retracted position.

6. A cartridge holder and ejector, including an elongated rectangularbox-like structure, having upright back and side walls and an upper endrigidly secured together, and a removable front wall, and means forlatching said front wall in closed relation to said side walls and end,the lower end of said holder being open; a follower within said holderslidable along said walls and a compression spring interposed betweensaid upper end and said follower; a relatively shallow ejector housingsecured below the open lower end of said holder, sa-id housing having atop extending fore and aft of said holder and apertured to conform tothe open lower end of said holder, side walls substantially(zo-extensive with said top, and a bottom portion underlying said holderand extending rearwardly beyond said back wall; a manually operableejector, slidably disposed in said housing, said ejector having a frontmember, side members and a transverse member, said members outlining apocket which is open top and bottom, said pocket conforming to the crosssection of said holder and being adapted in retracted position of saidejector to underlie said holder, said ejector having a plate-like topportion extending rearwardly from the top of said transverse member; anda spring cooperating with said ejector and said housing to urge saidejector into retracted position.

'7. A cartridge holder and ejector, including an elongated rectangularbox-like structure, having upright back and side walls and an upper endrigidly secured together, and a removable front wall, and means forlatching said front wall in closed relation to said side walls and end,the lower end of said holder being open; a follower within said holderslidable along said walls and a compression spring interposed betweensaid upper end and said follower; a relatively shallow ejector housingsecured below the open lower end of said holder, said housing having atop extending fore and aft of said holder and apertured to conform tothe open lower end of said holder, side walls substantially co-extensivewith said top, and a bottom spaced at its forward end not more than halflthe fore and aft depth of said holder rearwardly from said front wall,and extending rearwardly beyond said back wall; a manually operableejector, slidably disposed in said housing, said ejector having atransverse member adapted in retracted position of said ejector tounderlie the rear wall of said holder, and having a platelike topportion extending rearwardly from the top of said transverse member; anda spring cooperating with said ejector and said housing to urge saidejector into retracted position.

JOHN W.y KIRBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATNTs Number Name Date 138,847 Brabson !May 13, 1873225,169 Sauerbrey Mar. 2, 1880 673,269 Jacobs Apr. 30, 1901

